Brick slicing mechanism for icecream sandwich machines



Feb. 24, 1953 J. H. KEYSER ETAL 2,629,342

BRICK SLICING MECHANISM FOR ICE-CREAM SANDWICH MACHINES Filed Aug. 19, 1949 's Sh eets-Sheet 1 RI INVENTOR.

r/n/w-s M /f E r50? BY lh/v 0001-79) Feb. 24, 1953 J. H. KEYSER ETAL BRICK SLICING MECHANISM FOR ICE-CREAM SANDWICH MACHINES Filed Aug. 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. James A: yen? BY V4 C CURRY kz' m zamm HTTOHIVEYS u w m i e E V 0 F w w E m r 6 S NI 1 K T a N\ 9% C n e H w C 8 a E m a. M

J. H. KEYSE R ET AL BRICK SLICING MEQHANISM FOR ICE-CREAM SANDWICH MACHINES Filed Aug. 19, 1949 Feb. 24, 1953 Patented Feb. 24,

UNITED l STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,629,342 BEIGE stIciNe MECHANISMFQR 10E- i S;

SAND MACH N James H. Keyser, Kenova, and Van Huntington, W. Va. aphas a Au us 9 1949; s rial o- 11 invention relates to ice cream cutting machines, and more particularly to an ice-cream- A further object of th invention is to provide an improved ice-crearh-sandwich making machine Whichinvolves relatively few parts, which is sturdy in construction, which is very sanitary, and which greatly speeds upthe process of manufacturing ice cream sandwiches.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and claims, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of an icecr eam-sandwich rnaking machine constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical cross-sectional view taken through the icecream-sandwich making machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical cross sectional view taken through the icecreamesandwich-making machine of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the machine of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical cross-sectional View taken on line 4-4 of Figure 11;

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail view taken on line fi -759i Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken online 8-45 of Figure 5; c

Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective fragmenta ry detail view of the ice cream cutting blade and its support means, as employed in the machine of Fi ure 1.

Referring to the drawings, ll designates the frame of the machine said frame comprising the parallel longitudinal top rails l2, l2, preferably tubular as shown S id rails having elbows is attached to their ends, the vertical le s, shown at M, being attached to said elbow thrcugh T-fittings l5, and the Tffittings being connected y ansverse tub lar cr ss-bars .6- Secu d to the low r portions of the legs Mis a hQ zQ 'lfifi shelf l! on whichis mounted anelectric motor i3,

(Secured to the respective longitudinal rails l2, n at their nd portions are depending hanger brackets i9, and transversely journale in Sai brackets are the respective shafts 2i) and 2|.

4 Claims. (Cl. 107-21) Mounted on said shafts are the respective large pulley 22 and 23, and extending around said large pulleys is the flexible conveyor belt 24. Shaft 2i) also carries a pulley 25. Mounted on shelf l'l is a bracket zfihaving rotatively journaled thereto an idler pulley 21. The shaft of motor I3 carries a drive pulley 2B. Pulley 2B is coupled to pulley 25 by a belt 29 which passes ar und idl r l ey H- o A Secured on belt 24 are the spaced angle member 39.

Designated respectively at 3|, 32 and 33 are three feeding structuresspaced along the top of v frame ll and overlying the top of belt 24. Each feeding structure comprises four upstanding vertical post elements as secured to the frame rails l2, i2, pposing pairs of post elements being connected'at their top ends by transverse angle bars 35. The vertical fiangesof the angle bars 35, 35 are in inwardly-opposing relationshipand secured thereto over the belt 24 are the vertical corner angle bars 36 defining ,a vertical rectangular chute. The top ends of the bars 535 are secured to a rectangular top band 31, defining the top opening of the chute. The lower ends of the longitudinally-aligned bars as of the structures 31 and 33 are connected by straps 33. Secured to the straps 38 and bands 31 of the feeding structures '31 and 3 3 are vertical side bars 39 which extend below the straps 38 and are formed with inwardly-extending horizontal flanges do which define a passageway therebetween through which the top portions of the upstanding arms of the angle members 3:! may pass.

Secured to the under sides of the rails I2, l2 beneath each feeding structure i a transverse bar :4]. Secured to the transverse bars 4| on opposite sides of the conveyor belt 25 are up" standing post elements it: and'secured to the top ends of said post elements are the respective longitudinal ramp bars (i3, 45 disposed adjacent the conveyor'belt on'opposite sides thereof. The

ramp bars terminate inclinedportions M and '44; the inclinedrarnp portions H44 being rearw d ad e t t f ed n str q u 3| and-the inclinedportions 44' being forwardly adjacent the feeding structure 33.

1 ta Q s n w eh bake 3.5 may e d s d in ac o he vertica h lie deli/ mi th f ed ing structures ,3! and 33. The lowermost cake p orted on the flang s 4, A t t 5 move t e to uo e sof t e a le mem e s 1 succes iv eng ge he ower o cakes a d p said cakes fo ward from n ath the stack. H

Referring now to Figures and 6, it will be seen that the intermediate feeding structure 32 has the spaced vertical side bars 45, to the lower ends of which are secured longitudinal angle bars 41. Secured to the outer marginal portions of bars 41 are bars 48 and secured to the bars 48 are the parallel angle bars 49, as shown in Figure 7. Secured to the depending vertical flanges of the bars 49 are the smaller angle bars 50 defining therebetween a longitudinal passageway through which the top portions of the angle members 24 may pass. The respective sets of bars 41, 48 and 49 also define horizontal longitudinal guideways in which are slidably positioned respective bar members 5| and 52 having secured therebetween a horizontal cutting blade 53 formed with an inclined cutting edge 54. The rear end portions of bars 51' and 52 are provided with laterally-projecting pins 55 and pivoted to said pins are rearwardly extending rods 56. 'Rotatablymounted between the rear ends of rods 56 is a transverse roller 51. Secured on the ramp bars 43 are trapezoidal cam blocks 53, said blocks having inclined rear edges 59. Respective springs 60, 66 connect the rear portions of rods 56 rearwardly to the rails l2, biasing the blade 53 to a retracted position, as shown in Figure 3, wherein roller 51 is disposed rearwardly adjacent the lower portion of the inclined cam edges 59. As shown in Figure 5, when one of the angle members 30 moves into engagement with the roller 51, it pushes the roller upwardly along the inclined cam edges, causing the blade 53 to be moved forwardly through a cutting stroke. As the roller 51 reaches the top edges of the cam blocks 58, it is disengaged from the the blade 53 shears off a slice of the brick at v the bottom thereof. At the completion of the shearing stroke of the blade, the severed slice is engaged by the top portion of an angle member 30 and is moved forwardly oif of the supporting angle bars 50,501

In operation of the machine, the feeding structures 3| and 33 are each provided with a vertical stack of sandwich cakes and a vertical ice cream brick is disposed in the feeding structure 32. In forming sandwiches, the angle members 30 first move cakes from beneath the stack in feeding structure 3| onto the respective angle members. As a cake, shown for example in dotted view at 6| in Figure 5, comes beneath the feeding structure 32, a severed slice of ice cream is deposited thereon. As the slice of ice cream comes beneath the feeding structure 33, the angle member 30 on which the slice is carried moves another cake from beneath the stack of cakes in feeding structure 33 onto the ice cream slice, thereby completing the sandwich.

The completed sandwiches may be wrapped or packaged in any suitable manner subsequent to their movement from beneath the feeding structure 33.

Although a specific embodiment of an icecream-sandwich-making machine has been disclosed in the foregoing description, it will be understood that various modifications within the spirit of the invention may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, itis intended that no limitations be placed on the invention except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ice cream sandwich making machine having a horizontally disposed endless belt including spaced projections thereon for feeding cakes, an ice cream feeding structure above said conveyor, said structure comprising a vertical chute to receive an ice cream brick, a longitudinal passage at the lower end of said chute through which the projections may pass, a horizontally disposed cutting blade slidably carried by said chute and spaced above the top plane of said projections, and means for oscillating said blade, whereby the lower portion'of the ice cream brick is severed in timed relation to movement of the conveyor.

2. In an ice cream sandwich making machine having means to feed a cake, an endless belt conveyor, spaced projections carried on said conveyor for moving said cake with said conveyor, ice cream feeding structure mounted above said conveyor and positioned for deposting ice cream on the cake, said means comprising a chutehaving means at the lower end thereof for supporting a brick of ice cream, said means being arranged to allow movement of said projections therethrough to engage the bottom of the brick, a horizontal cutting blade slidably carried by the chute in spaced relation to and located above said supporting means, and means for reciprocating said cutting blade in timed relation to the movement of said conveyor.

3. An. ice cream sandwich making machine comprising a frame, a horizontally disposed endless belt conveyor including spaced elements mounted on said frame for movement about spaced horizontal axes, spaced projections carried on said conveyor, an ice cream feeding structure supported in overlying relation with respect to said conveyor, means for supporting an ice cream brick in said ice cream feeding structure, there being a longitudinal passageway provided at the lower end of said ice cream feeding structure for the passage therethrough of said projections, said projections being selectively engageable with the lowermost portion of'the ice cream brick in response to the movement of said belt conveyor, a horizontally disposed cutting blade slidably carried by the lower portion of said ice cream feeding structure spaced above the top plane of said projections and movable through said ice cream feeding structure, spring means biasing said cutting blade outwardly of said ice cream feeding structure, and means carried by said cutting blade and engageable by said projections for moving said cutting blade inwardly of said ice cream feeding structure in response to the movement of said projections.

4. An ice cream sandwich making machine comprising a frame, a horizontally disposed endless belt conveyor including spaced elements mounted on said frame for movement about spaced horizontal axes, spaced projections car ried on said conveyor, an ice cream feeding structure supported in overlying relation with respect to said belt conveyor, means for supporting an ice cream brick in said ice cream feeding structure, there being a longitudinal passageway provided at the lower end of said ice cream feeding structure for the passage therethrough of said projections, said projections being selectively engageable with the lowermost portion of the ice cream brick in response to the movement of said belt conveyor, a horizontally disposed cutting blade slidably carried by the lower portion of said ice cream feeding structure spaced above the top plane of said projections and movable through said ice cream feeding structure, spring means biasing said cutting blade outwardly of said ice cream feeding structure, inclined cam means carried by said frame rearwardly of said ice cream feeding structure, a transverse roller member on said cam means successively engageable by said projections, and link means pivotally connecting said roller member to said blade, said cam means being formed and arranged to release said roller member when said cutting blade has been moved a substantial distance inwardly of said ice cream feeding structure.

JAMES H. KEYSER. VAN C. CURRY.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

